New England foliage offers a beautiful backdrop for a fall wedding, but chilly temperatures cause many brides to discredit hosting their big day outdoors. Don’t miss out. With tent side panels (consider clear panels so guest can enjoy the view) and appropriate placed tent heaters, you and your guests will stay warm through the night.

Many rental companies offer heaters. Consider ones that have thermostats, so they won’t just run forever and run out of gas early in the night. At Lakes Region Tent & Event we have two different sizes, 80,000 BTU and 125,000 BTU. We suggest 1 heater for every 1500-2000 SF. This means if you have a 30’x40′ tent you’ll need one heater; if you have a 40’x60′ tent you’ll need two.

Generally we try to locate heaters on the non-focal side of the tent because the heaters and propane tanks sit outside the tent (see attached photo). We also like using our cafe sides which are white for the first 30″ up from the ground so you don’t see the heaters from inside the tent. The heaters will work better if there is siding all the way around the tent, but can be used with decent results if sides are up and heaters located on the windward side of the tent, even if sides aren’t up on the leeward side.

If you intend to use the heaters for more than 5 or 6 hours (say a rehearsal dinner Friday night and wedding on Saturday) let your vendor know so extra fuel will be on hand. The ignition and fan require 110 power and draw less than 7 amps peak, so most household electrical service will suffice. For sites that do not have electric access, a generator can be used.

If you have any questions about tent heaters, we welcome your questions.